Driving connection for sewing-machines.



AL A. MERRITT.

DRIVING CONNECTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JAILZB, 1910. RENEWED AUG. 1, 1912.

mg gy Patented 0ct.15,1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET '1.

A. A. MERRETT.

DRIVING-CONNECTION FOR SEWING MACHINE&

APPLIGATION FILED :rnms, 1910 RENEWED AUG. 1, .1912.

l ,04 1 6 57 u i 5,

( SHEHTE*SLLEET 2.

A. A. MERRITT. DRIVING CONNECTION FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JAILZB, 1910. RENEWED AUG. 1, 1912.

1.041,,65'7. Patented Oct. 15, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

A. A. MBRRITT. DRIVING CONNECTION FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN.2B, 1910. RENEWED we. 1, 1912.

115413357. atented (W15, W12;

, companymg drawings of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR A. MERRITT, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLCOX & GIBBS SEWING MACHINE,COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ARTHUR A. Mnnnrr'r, of Worcester, Massachusetts, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Driving Connections for Sewing-Machines, which inventionis fully set forth in the following specification.

This is a division of. my application filed December 12th, 1908, Serial No. 467,163, for improvements in sewing machines.

The present invention, while relating generally to improvements in sewing machines, is directed, particularly to driving connections especially designed and adapted for use in such machines, but also capable of use in other mechanisms.

This invention will be readily understood by reference. to the illustration in the acwhat is at present regarded as the preferred embodiment thereof in a sewing-machine of the character more fully illustrated and described in the aforesaid original application.

- In said drawings: Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a portion of the work-arm of the machine on line 1-1 of Fig, 4; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2- -2 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4' is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

" 1, with certain of the parts through which said section line passes shown in elevation; Fig: 5 is a detail perspective of one of the couplings; Fig. 6 is a top view, with parts in section, of the coupling shown in view, with parts in section, of a similar coupling in which the .arms'radiate in alinement or in parallelism to each other; and Fig. 8 is an elevation of the coupling shown' in Fig. 7. The amework of the machine comprises I two hollow standards, only one'of which 40 is shown, connected by a hollow bridge 42 (part of which is shown in Fig. 4, and in dotted lines Fig. 1), preferably formed in one casting. A hollow work-arm extends forward from the upper end of the standard 40 in a horizontal part 50, and from the outer end of the latter a part 51 depends vertically. These parts and 51 are, as shown, preferably a continuation or extension of the hollow standard 40, being cast integral therewith and as a part of the DRIVING CONNECTION FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Original application filed December 12, 1908, Serial N 0. 467,163. Divided and this application filed January Serial No. 540,599. Renewed August 1, 1912. Serial No. 712,777.

Patented Oct. 15', 1912.

single main casting which also embraces the bridge 42 and the other standard. A horizontal part 53 of the work-arm extends from the lower end of part 50 toward the left and rearward (Fig. 1), terminating at its free end-which constitutes the free end of the entire work-arm-beneath an overhanging portion of the head of the machine not shown. As illustrated, part 53 of the workarm is preferably a trough-like casting secured to part.51 by screws 54, 55 and 56. The main driving shaft 81 (Fig. 1) has two cranks, one 89 for driving the parts through which the loopers of the machine are actuated,'and the other 90 for driving the parts through which the feed is actuated. v

310 is a pitman fulcrumed on a pin 311, and also movable longitudinally on said pin through the intermediary of bearing-blocks 312 working in a capped opening of the pitman. The inner end of the pin 311 is secured in a socket in a wall or flange 174 (clearly shown in Fig.1) by a setescrew 313. A capped hearing at the inner end of pitman 310 embraces crank 90. A. capped hearing at the outer end of the pitman embraces a spherical bearing 314 of a 'coupling device through which motion is trans mitted to a vertical lever 315 extending longitudinally within the part 51 of the workarm. The coupling referred to (see also Fig. 6) comprises a sleeve 316 embracing and vertically movable on a short shaft 317 extending through an opening in the top wall of the part 50 of the work-arm, its lower end being fixed by a set screw 318 in a socket in the lower wall of said part of the arm, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. An-upwardly projecting flange 319 around said socket forms a cup for lubricant which lubricates the contacting surfaces of the lower end of sleeve 316 and the shaft 317. The upper end of shaft 317 is hollow, and from the lower end of the hollowed portion a passage 320 leads to the surface of the shaft, its outer end being preferably closed with a leather plug through which the lubricant exudes. The hollow portion of the shaft is preferably filled with a fibrous material, such as waste, held in position by a plug 321 at the outer end of the shaft, said plug having a central opening through which lubricant may be introduced to saturate the fibrous material. Sleeve 316 has two short arms rojecting therefrom at an angle of. approximately 115? with rela- 5 tion to each other, the arm 322 consisting of a part cast integral with the sleeve and a pin 323 screw-threaded into said part and at its outer end slidingly engaging in an opening through the spherical bearing 314 heretofore mentioned. The other short arm 324 on the sleeve also comprises a part cast integral with the sleeve and a pin 325 screwthreaded into a socket in said part and at its outer end slidingly engaging in an opening througha spherlcal bearing 326. The latter is embraced by a cappedbearing at the upper end of the'lever 315.

From the construction thus-described, it will be readily understood that the slightly i elliptical motion impartedrtothe outer end of pitman 310 acts upon the arm 322 (Fig.

1) of the coupling, causing the outer end of said arm to .dBSGIlbQ a similar slightly elliptical movement, during which the pin 323 has slight longitudinal movement in the opening inrthespherical bearing 314, and the sleeve 316 slides up and down on the shaft 317. This elliptical movement of arm 322 is approximatedin Fi 6 by the ellipse marked a, the major axis 0 which, equal to the line 12, represents .thedistance of movement in a horizontal direction, while the minor axis, equal to line 0, represents the distance of movement in a vertical direction. The-arm 324 of the coupling, which acts upon the upper end of t e ever 315 (Fig, 2), describes an elliptical movement approximated in Fig. 6, by ellipse d, the ma or axis of which, e ual to line 6, represents the distance of orizontal movement imparted to the outer end of arm 324, and the minor axis of which, equal to line 1, represents the distance of vertical movement. It will be seen that the minor axes of both ellipses, equal to 5 lines f and c, are of equal length,corresponding" to the vertical sliding movement of the coiiplin on the shaft 317. On the other hand, the major axis, equal to line b, is longer than the major axis equal to line e, due-to the fact that arm 324 is' relatively shorter than the arm 322.

The dimensions of the coupling such'as the length of the arms and their angular relationship, may be varied to fit difier'ent con- (11516 153 and-requirements of use. Instead of having ,rms at an angle of approximately 115 as m Figvfi, it may be desirable to position them at 180, as in Figs. 7 and 8. The couplings being otherwise similar, the form 69 of movement transmitted to the driven part will be the same, as indicated by a comparison of ellipses a and b of Fig, 6 with ellipses g and h of Figs. 7 andl8. A circular-movement at the end of one will be transelliptical "movement at the formed into an end of thefother'a'rm' if. the aririsareot ditferent lengths. Various other similar transformations of movement are possible. With arms of equal length, the movementwillbe similar at the end of both. 7

The lever 315 is fulcrumed to turn on the inner reduced end of the stem of a milled head .327, said stem passing through a slot in the front wall of the part 51 of the 'workarm and having a screw-threaded portion engaging a nut-330. Through the intermediary of two bearing blocks 331 embracing the reduced end of the stem of the-thumb wheel, and working in an-elongated capped bearing opening in the lever 315, the latter is free to move-longitudinally during. its rocking movement about its fulcrum. At its lower extremity this lever is pivoted to the upwardly bent end of a horizontal feed lever 332-, this pivot consisting of a screw 35 333, the threaded end of which engages, the lever 332 and the headed end of wh ch engages an opening through the lever 315, as clearly shown. The feed lever 332 extends longitudinally within the horizontal part .53 of the work-arm, and at itsforward end (not shown)'is fulcrumed and carries a feed-Sui? face. Through the connections explained this feed-surface is given what is known in the art as a four-motion feed describinga circle or ellipse. The extent of. thisjeed movement,-or what is known as the throw. of the feed, may be adjusted to increase or decrease thesame by loosening the thumb wheel 327 (Fig, 2) and moving the same, its stem and the bearing blocks 331, upward to increase the throwzof the feed surface, and; downward to decrease the same. 1 I

350, is an auxiliaryv lever pivoted at its upper end, by a screw pivot 351,- to lever 315 and at its lower end pivotedby a screw pivot 352 (similar to screw pivot 333,. heretofor described), to the upwardly bent end of a feed lever 353, whichlatter extends longitudinally within the horizontal part :33 ot the work-arm parallel to-the feed lever 332. Intermediate of its ends the lever 350 isfulcrumed to turn on the reduced end of the stem or shank of screw 354. The lever 350 is also longitudinally movable on its-fulcrum through the intermediary of two hearing blocks 355 embracing the pivot. end of the screw 354 and located in an elongated capped bearing slot in the-lever 350. The stem or shank of the screw 354 passes through a vertical slot in the rear wall of the vrrticai part 51 of the work-arm, the head otflthe screw engaging the counter-sunk.onteppertion'of said slot and bearing against an oil" set or shoulder formed around the slotby the counter-sinking. A sme\v-thr eaded phi-- tion of the stem of the screw engages a nut- 367. By tightening the scre t-o 'livaw the! nut against the inner-surface; ofth mwall. of the arm at the sides of the slot, theisqr ezw is 130 i ransmits to; it

parted to the upwardly bent ond-of-the feed lever 353 Tlii's'incuminent' or the latter lever forwardenmym which the attached, a circular or ellipticalmoverue'. the line of which maybe variedhy adj he th'flllcltlln pin 354 of lever V The form of coupling described above for feed surface transmitting motion from the pitma'n' 310 to the lever 315 is of special importance and adapted toa wide variety of uses, in that it enables rotary and other movements in a curved line to be transmitted between longi tudinally movable leversgpitmen, or analo gous parts, whose linesof action ma be at difiercnt relative angles withoutthe use of 1 gears and shafts therefor. The movement thus transmitted may be of regular or irregular form, and the path described by one arm of the coupling may d-ifier fromthat'described by the other arm, depending upon [the relative lengths of the arms Bythe use of such. coupling itis possible to dispense with beveled or analogous gearing in the useof whicliprovislon must be made for end thrust. Furthermore, the wear on the teeth of beveled gears produces slight lost motion, which in machines of; the character -herein 1 described 1s seriously ob actionable.

Furthermore, beveled and analogous gearing are noisy [particularly when operating at high speed such as that at which machines herein described are adapted to be driven;

a the improved coupling described practically eliminates these objections. I 1

f L di similar coupling constitutes apart of the driving connections for the loopers,

flwhich connections will now be .describedin detail. Pittman 395 has a capped bearing at oneend embracing the crank 89, ,andnear its middle is" fulcrumed to turnton, a pin 396 passing through the (side wall .ofhorizontal part of the work-arm, and at its inner end secured by a set screw 397 in a socket in 1 the wall of flange 17 i heretofore mentioned.

Through the intermediary of two bearing blocks (similar to 312) embracing pivot pin -396, and working in a capped elongated pivoted by. screw bolt/50 to the upper end w'of alever 399 extending vertically within a bearing. opening in the pijtman395, the lat ter is also, freejto' move long tudinally on its fulcrum. At its .outer end pitman 395, is

the partol. of, the work-arm. Lever 399 is fulcruined to turn on a headed pivot pin e00, the shank of which is secured by a set screw 401 (Fig. l) in an opening in the wall of the part 51 of the work-arm. Through the in termediary of bearing blocks not shown, but similar to 331, embracing pivot pin too and working in an elongated capped hearing opening in the lever 399 the latter is adapted to move longitudinally on its ful crum, At its lower end the lever 399 is capped to embrace a spherical bearing block 403, h/lovement is communicated from the lower end of the lever 399 to the end of the looper lever 37 5, which latter extends longitudinally within the part 53 of the workarm, as heretofore explained, through a coupling similar to the coupling heretofore described astransmitting motion from the pit- "man 310 to the lever 315. In the present instance the coupling comprises a sleeve 4:04 longitudinally movable on a short shaft or bar405 supported at its opposite ends in openingsthrough the side wall ofthe lower end of the part 51 of the work-arm and held in position by set-screw 4:06. The pin 405 is'hollowed and filled with a fibrous material'to-be saturated with a lubricant for which an'exit opening is provided through tllGSldB wall of the hollow pin. The open end of the pin is partly closed by a plug 176 having a central opening therein through which lubricant may be introduced to 'satu- 5, rate the fibrous material. Two arms 407 and tOSprojectirom the sleeve 404 approxi .mately at right-angles with relation to each other, and. are preferably cast integral with the sleeve; these arms include pins 409 and 410 screw-threaded at one end to engage sockets as shown. The pin 409 projects into a central opening through the" sphe ric'al bearing 403. The pin 410 projectsthrough a central opening through a similar spheri calbearing 411, which latter is embraced by the capped end of the looper lever 375.

From this description it will be understood that the coupling serves to communicate the rotary-movement of the lower end no ot lever 399 to'the end of looper bar 375; the turning of the sleeve 404: of the coupling on its pin 405, causes the bearing pins 409 and 410 to have a slight end-wise movement in their openings through the spherical bear-. ing blocks. In the lateral movement imparted to the end of the looper bar 375 through the coupling just described, sa-id bar works in a space between guide-plate 412 and a bridge piece 912 extending trans- 12o versely across theinterior of the horizontal part 53 of the work-arm; undesirable vibration of the driven end of the looper bar is thus avoided. At its forward end, not sliown, t-he.looper-bar 375 is fulcrumed on a vertical pivot and carries the loopers.

What I claim is 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work-arm having a bend or angle therein, of drivingconnections extending along said work-arm to an operating part and including a rotatable coupling located at the bend or angle of the arm and longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, a driving member extending along the arm at one side of its bend or angle and connected to said coupling, actuating means for imparting longitudinal and lateral movement to said driving member and through said connection to the coupling turning the latter about and moving it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven member also connected to said coupling and extending along the work-arm at the other side of the bend or angle thereof.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a hollow work-arm having a bend or angle therein, of driving connections extending along said work-arm to an operating part and including a coupling within the arm at the bend or angle thereof, a shaft extending transversely within the arm and on which said coupling is rotatable and movable longitudinally of the shaft, a driving member extending longitudinally within the arm at one side of its bend or angle and connected to said coupling, actuating means for imparting longitudinal and lateral movement to said driving member and through said connection to the coupling turning the latter about and movin it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven member also connected to said coupling and extendin within the work-arm at the other side of t e bend or angle thereof.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with a hollow work-arm having a bend or angle therein, of driving connections extending along said work-arm to an operating part and including a rotatable coupling within the arm at the bend or angle thereof, a driving lever extending longitudinally Within the arm at one side of its bend or angle and connected to said coupling, actuating means for imparting longitudinal movement to said lever while rocking it on its fulcrum and through said connection of the' lever to the coupling turning the'latter about and moving it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven lever extending within the arm at the other side of its bend or angle and free to rock on its fulcrum while moving longitudinally.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work-arm having a bend or angle therein, of driving connections extending along said woI'k-arm'to an operating part and including a coupling located at the bend or angle of the arm consisting of a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its 'axis of rotation, and having two arms branching therefrom in direct-ions transverse to the axis of rotation, a driving lever or bar extending along the arm at one side of its bend or angle and connected to one arm of the coupling act-ing to impart rotary and longitudinal movement to the coupling, and a driven lever or bar connected to the other arm of the coupling and extending along the work-arm at the other side of its bend or angle.

5. Driving connections including a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, a driving member connected to said rotatable member, actuating means for imparting longitudinal and lateral movement to said driving member and through its said connection to the rotatable member turning the latter about and 111W ing it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven member also connected to said rotatable member. I

- 6. Driving connections including a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, a driving member connected to said rotatable member, actuating means imparting longitudinal movement in a curved path to said driving member at its point of connection to the rotatable member and thereby simultaneously turning the latter about and moving it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven member connected to said rotatable member.

7. Driving connections including a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, a driving lever connected to said rotatable member, actuating means simultaneously rocking said driving lever on itsfulcrum and moving it longitudinally and through said connection to the rotating member turning the latter abo it and moving it longitudinally of its axis, and a driven member also connected to said rotatable member.

8. Drivin connections including a coupling consisng of a member rotatable on an axis and also movable along said axis longitudinally of the latter, said member having two arms branchingtherefrom in directions transverse to the axis of rotation, a driving lever or bar connected to one of said arms and acting to impart rotary and longitudinal movement tothe coupling; and a driven lever or bar connected to the other arm.

9. Driving connections including a coupling consisting of a member rotatable on an axis and also movable along said axis longitudinally of the latter, said member having two arms of different length branching therefrom in directions transverse to the axis of rotation, a driving lever or bar connected to one of said arms and acting to impart rotary and longitudinal movement to the coupling; and a driven lever or bar connected to the other arm.

10. Driving connections including a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, driving means including a noenee'r lever connected to said rotatable member and a crank for actuating said lever, Whereby said rotatable member is turned about and moved longitudinally of its axis, and a 5 driven member also connected to said rotatable member.

11. Driving connections including a rotatable member longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, driving means connected'to said rotatable member and whereby the latter is turi'ied about and moved longitudinally of its axis, and a driven bar connected to said rotatable member and actuated there'- by to move longitudinally and laterally.

12. Driving connections including a rotatable'rnember longitudinally movable on its axis of rotation, driving means connected to said rotatable member and whereby the latter is turned about and moved longitndr nally of its axis; anda driven lever connected to said rotatable member and actu- I ated thereby to simultaneously move longitudinally on its fulcrum aid rock or swing laterally on said fiilcrnm.

13, Driving connections including a coupling consistmg of a member rotatable on an axis and also movable along said axis longitudinally of the latter, said coupling i ARTHUR A. MERRITT.

- Witnesses :Y

W. B. Keenan, I F. A, l-loLroN.

lfiogpiea or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the lllommlssioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. Q. 

